Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-03-03

Arrangement.
CHAPTER In-CoNTINUED
"Down to Commercial wharf, where
our vessel lies, was the unhesitating
answer. My father is Captain Jethro
Flagg, and I'm Polly Flagg," contin-
ued Miss Polly, vaguely conscious that
some sort of introduction was the
proper thing, under all the circum-
stances.
''My name is Tad-I mean Thaddeus
-Thorne, and I'm from Philadelphia,
said Tad, wishing that his jacket was
less threadbare and his shoes were
whole, as he glanced at the simple but
neat dress of his companion, whose
face was completely overshadowed by
deep calico sun-bonnet shaped like
the tilt of market wagon.
"Ohn' returned Polly, and then, in
stead of speaking of the weather, or
asking Tad how he liked Boston, Polly
plunged headlong into a personal ex-
PLANTATION: 1.-The cook wasn't well this
morning." she began, $50 I had to 90
to market, for father was uptown. And
while l was hurrying back through
Lewis Lane, because it was nearer,
those horrid boys chased the poor little
dog that had got lost, and he ran to
me so pitiful," said Polly, bending over
the small animal in her arms until it
was completely eclipsed by the sun
bonnet, ''that 1 caught him up, and
said they shouldn't have him. Then
you came along, and-Im ever so
much obliged"
The abrupt wind-up, though a little
incoherent, was perfectly satisfactory
to Tad.
Hell be q nice little dog after he's
washed" Tad remarked, patting the
pup to cover his embarrassment, for
Tad wasn't used to thanks, particularly
from girls. II guess he's Newfound-
land" be continued, with knowing
glance at the animals ears and paws,
sand they're tirst-class watcr-dogs, YOU
know"
Polly nodded. and, after a short
pause, looked curiously at the hand
some travelling sachel in Tad's hand.
.'You don't belong to any of those
vessels?' she asked, inquiringly. For
they had crossed busy Commercial
street. and were walking along the
platform on the water front. where the
pedestrian looks down upon the bewil-
dering maze of masts, Spars and cord
age belonging to the coaSting and fish
ing craft huddled in the basin between
the two wllarves.
No" replied Tad, in low voice.
He could not tell her that he belonged
to nothing-to no one, as he mentally
expressed it. 1t would make him seem
like Il sort of vagrant, youthful tramp.
Nor did he-to Polly's secret disap-
pointment-account for his possession
of the handsome little travelling sachel,
with its silver mountings, at which
Polly had east admiring chances.
81 hope he came by it honestly"
thought Polly, and then was ashamed
of the ungenerous self-suggestion.
Yet, l am afraid it fingered uncon-
sciously in her mind, for she had in the
flush of her gratitude decided she would
ask Tad to take dinner with herself and
Captain Flagg, on board the Mary j. "
But as they reached the end of Com
mercial wharf, where the MARY j.
was moored, Polly hesitated a little.
she said but Tad. who noticed her al
most imperceptible change of manner
without being able to account for it,
shook his head.
..Oh, no. miss; / don't look fit he
replied. with Il glance at his shabby
clothes and patched shoes, that was pa
thetic. II come down here" he con-
tinued. simply, '.because there wasn't
any other place where | could set down
and look over the papers-good-morn
ing, miss" and before Polly could re-
ply Tad was gone.
CHAPTER ".
just astern of the MARY j. large
iron steamer was discharging her cargo
of cotton bales, dozen or more OF
which were TERED up one upon an,
other at the verge of the wharf.
Looking about him to make sure
that he was unobserved, Tad scram
bled up the back side of the tier
and, crawling nimbly over the top
dropped into narrow niche between
two of the bales, where, well sheltered
from the wind, and warmed by the sun
he found that without being seer
he could look directly down upon the
"Mary j. IS" deck.
Polly Flagg had thrown aside he
ugly head-gear, and, using the end o
the half-house for a wash-bench, wa;
vigorously scrubbing the small dog
who feebly protested, in bucket o
warm water furnished by the cook;
diminutive colored man with YER.
round shoulders, and woody locks plen
tifully powdered with gray.
There, little dog" said Polly, a
she rubbed the whimpering pup with /
bit of an old sail-cloth. "you We're new
er so clean in your life before. Now
George Washington" addressing tn
colored ndividual-"take him and Ia.
him in the galley, by the fire, till he
dry"
"'Pears though he orter be c'nsider
ably refrigerated by his absolution
Miss Polly" returned Washington
with convulsive giggle, as, receivin:
the small bundle, he hurried back II
the galley, which was Il sort OF larg
''cubby-house." midway between tn
two masts, where the cooking wa
done.
Meanwhile, Polly unpinned her dress
which she had carefully turned up il
front during the washing, pulled dow
her sleeves and, without resuming TIL
big sun-bonnet, walked to the rail